Digital Civics in Human–Computer Interaction: A Bibliometric Dataset from CHI Proceedings (1996–2023)

This dataset presents a curated collection of publications related to Digital Civics identified within the ACM Digital Library for the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI). Covering the period from 1996 to 2023, the dataset includes 190 papers that explore the role of digital technologies in empowering citizens, communities, and non-state actors to co-create services, influence institutional agendas, and reshape power relations.
The dataset reflects the growth of Digital Civics research, highlighting a more than 500% increase in publications from the 2010s to the 2020s, signalling the field’s expanding significance within Human–Computer Interaction (HCI). It encompasses a wide variety of technological interventions (e.g. games, tangible interfaces, storytelling applications) and thematic domains (e.g. activism, health, well-being, gender, safety). Particular attention is given to research engaging underrepresented or marginalised groups, including refugees, children, people with disabilities, grassroots initiatives, and communities in the Global South.
This dataset provides a resource for examining the historical development, thematic diversity, and methodological approaches within Digital Civics, enabling further analysis of how participatory and relational models of service design contribute to shaping inclusive, resilient, and data-rich forms of civic engagement.